Thank You

My name is Edward and I am 12 years old, currently living in Sydney, Australia.

I wanted to email you to express my deep gratitude to you for what you have taught me about life. You showed me that you can be the most successful person in the world and be so humble. You also showed me how you can put in the hard yards but you can still have a laugh with your mates while doing it.

In all honesty, you inspired my constant need for technology. Our school recently developed a 1 to 1 laptop system and I must say that it has only extended my love of technology even further.

A year ago, when I read Mr Jobs' biography, it really made me want to explore the 'historical' side of the Apple story. 3 months ago, I finished your autobiography and you have no idea how much that inspired me to do my best.

I'm only in Grade 6 so I am not sure what I want to do with my life but I can tell you one thing.

Your story has changed me and I hope that this reaches you.

Once again, I want to thank you for everything you have taught me. Apple is definitely my favourite company because of its simplicity and somehow, because of its complexity.

I remember picking up your autobiography one day and reading it for the first time and thinking to myself quite simply, "Wow" "This is where intelligence can take you."

I bought an iPad last year and sat there for the first five minutes not even turning it on. Just looking at the beauty of it. Personally, I think that if you can make a child that has waited for years to buy a device, to just sit there and look at it, you have achieved beyond achievable.

I love the company you, Mr Jobs and Mr Wayne have created and I know that one day I am going to show my child; an iPhone and say "This is what you can do."

It would be extraordinary if this email and I would like to dare further and ask, however rude it may seem, for you to reply.

I just want to end this email with a simple message that sums up all my thoughts at this moment....Thank you.

I never thought I've have the opportunity to say "thanks" for what you did. You made a remarkable contribution to the world. Now, watch what I'm going to do with what I learned because of you. Better yet..... join me and perhaps eclipse your previous accomplishment.

Woz

I believe that the persons that believe that they are going to make it are the ones that do. I will join you but only in my heart as I have no time at all beyond just barely keeping up with email (about 14 hours of it today, and still not caught up)

Is it okay to call you Woz, or do you prefer Steve? Either way, I just wanted to write to say that I like your site and all the information. More importantly, I wanted to thank you for all your significant contributions to computers, especially Apple products. You're like a living legend to me.

Woz

I've always gone by either Steve or Woz.

I only started being called Woz as we started Apple, as there were two Steve's. So Woz is the name most synonymous with Apple. My wife calls me Steve though, but she knew me back to 7th grade when I did go by Steve.

Hi Woz. I am a big fan of yours. I'm 18 and live in Los Angeles. Now, I have a really good idea for a program... this idea has been burning a hole in my brain ever since I thought of it. If you like, I will tell you the idea. But there are some problems, the first of which is that I have no idea what to do. I can't actually start working on it because I'm really not a very good programmer, myself. I also don't know anyone who is who will just work on it because they like the idea... so maybe you know someone who has the right spirit? At any rate, thanks so much for all you've done for computing... matt

Woz

Sorry, but I'm not that good a programmer any more. I do program occassionally, but only for my favorite things, solving puzzles and games. I also have little time to hear ideas. I get such approaches many times each week. But I haven't the time to contribute anything. If I had the time, things would be different. Best wishes to you, and you are free to tell me your idea. Just don't expect too much time from me.

So I am 13 and headed real far into computers!!! So you invented the first computer! What year did you come up with that great idea , I mean I'm using one now , and pretty much the world! Well hey if you get this e-mail , e-mail me back! I jus wanted to say you are a great person for changing our future and etc. etc..

Woz

Hey, I'm reminded of things my father said when I was your age. He was a great engineer. But he told me how important we young people were. He said that the adults had a lot of things not working well in the world and that we kids were going to school in order to make the world much better. I was shocked to learn that my elementary school teacher made less than junior high school and high school teachers and even engineers after hearing this speech.

Well, it's your turn to decide that you want to achieve and change the future. You have to work hard to do better at things than almost anyone else. You have to put off some partying until later, after your success is assured. I wish you well in this.

I can truly say you've been an inspiration to me. I've had the honor of hearing you speak in person once or twice and was inspired each time. Thank you so much for the past 26 years of home computing. Your simple actions have made quite a difference in my life. Let NO one ever say "one man cannot make a difference" for you have proven that axiom wrong.

Woz

This comment makes my day. I read your note and was glad to hear from someone who encountered and liked and bought Apple products from the start. I'm glad to get credited for making a difference.

Jim, My name is Brian R. I spoke with you last night around 6pm and you asked me to send you this note. Several years ago, Steve visited Fort Lauderdale at my request for what was the local Apple user's group. Steve actually made 2 visits down including bringing 2 of the key developers for the Mac, Andy and another gentleman. On both occasions, Steve came over to my house where I showed him what I was doing at the time with a bulletin board system. After Steve's last visit, about 2 or 3 days later a 5MB hard drive showed up on my doorstep with a "Good luck" note attached.

The success I have experienced since then has everything to do with the Woz spending the time with me that he did in Fort Lauderdale and even on a trip I made with my family out to California shortly after his South Florida visit. As I told you on the phone last night, I am in town with my wife and 21-month old son and would like to stop by to say hello if at all possible. We are leaving Saturday morning to start driving back to Florida. I will call your office around 9-10am on Friday morning. Sincerely, Brian

Woz

Brian, this is Steve. I hope that I can get to see you, but if not, best wishes anyway. I do remember your name when I see this and I remember the two Fort Lauderdale visits as great ones. The parts that I recall might differ from your own. I remember your BBS and was very impressed. The second trip was the week that the Macintosh was introduced and I brought Andy, Burrell, and Bill Atkinson along as a special gift to your club and the one in Washington D.C. (if I remember correctly) where the projector almost didn't arrive in time. I remember crying on the plane coming into Fort Lauderdale but I won't say why here.

I get to hear back very often from people that I apparently made a positive difference in their lives, with special gifts or sponsorship. Many of them turn out very successful and I hope that they've been influenced positively. I've mostly forgotten these incidents. There are many many of them. Plus, they are part of my 'way' and not individually special. I am so glad that you remember this good thing.